In Their Own Words is the story of 7 Canadians sharing their journey with mental illness. In this Bell Let’s Talk Day special, host Anne-Marie Mediwake visits homes, schools, and workplaces and listens to seven different stories of struggle, recovery, support, and hope. With mental health challenges including depression, postpartum depression, PTSD, drug addiction, social anxiety, and self-harm, this riveting documentary highlights not only mental health, but the path from illness to wellness.

The following people and their stories are featured:

Mike Babcock - Although publicly known as the tough head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the mental and physical well-being of his players always takes precedent, on or off the ice. Mike Babcock started to focus on mental health initiatives after losing two close friends, and while he tries to help drive the dialogue, he also recognizes that mental illness continues to be a taboo topic in the dressing room, with work still to be done.

Josh and Lisa Canning - When Lisa married Josh, she knew he had suffered from depression in his youth, but it was only after five years of marriage, two children, and a third pregnancy that she spotted signs of a possible relapse. She thought she lost her husband, but after making lifestyle changes and accepting mental illness as part of their day-to-day lives, the couple is now thriving with seven children.

Jennifer Green - Jennifer Green shares her experience with postpartum depression in the hopes of helping other struggling mothers. While she recognizes now she had postpartum with her firstborn, it wasn’t until the birth of her second son that she finally admitted she needed help. Now a happy mother of four, Green wants to break the stigma around postpartum and let other mothers know they are not alone and it’s okay to ask for help.

Asante Haughton - Mental illness is something Asante has been exposed to all his life. When he was 14, he suffered from social anxiety and severe depression. His Jamaican roots made it more difficult to be open about his diagnosis. Now a peer support worker and motivational speaker, Asante shares his story to try and break the barriers that keep young men from seeking help.

David Henry - A truck driver by trade for more than 30 years, David Henry spent most of his life on the road. In 2001, Henry was diagnosed with depression and PTSD as a result of several bad accidents and daily isolation. Now, he speaks to fellow truck drivers nationwide about his experience with mental illness, the importance of making changes, and being more open about mental well-being in the trucking industry.

Andi Sharma - A senior policy analyst with the Government of Manitoba and a newly trained pilot, Andi Sharma understands no one is immune to hardship. Her troubles began with the death of her father when she was 19, and she turned to drugs to numb her pain, which quickly became a daily routine. Clean now for more than six years, Sharma learned to love herself and accept the scars of her past.

Krista Van Slingerland - Krista Van Slingerland was a star varsity basketball player when the pressure and demands of the sport sent her spiraling into depression and she started to self-harm. The mental toughness she needed to be a top athlete made it difficult for her to admit she needed help. Now, Van Slingerland is the co-founder of The Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport, the first of its kind in Canada, where she focuses on the mental health needs of high-level athletes.